Martha S. Feldman is associate dean of the Ford School of Public Policy and professor of political science and public policy. Jeannine Bell teaches at the Indiana University Law School. Michele Berger is a political scientist at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

• Part 1 IntroductionPart 2 Part OnePart 3 Chapter One: Finding InformantsPart 4 Chapter Two: Human Subjects and Permission to Contact InformantsPart 5 Chapter Three: Making Initial ContactPart 6 Chapter Four: Developing RapportPart 7 Chapter Five: Exiting: Ending the RelationshipPart 8 Part TwoPart 9 Chapter Six: Gaining Access to IndividualsChapter 10 Maintaining AccessChapter 11 Chinese Officials as Ordinary RespondentsChapter 12 Dealing With Difficult Gatekeepers, Vulnerable Populations and 'Hooks' That Go Awry: An Access StoryChapter 13 Gaining Access: Courting Minorities in Postwar BosniaPart 14 Chapter Seven: Gaining Access for InterviewingChapter 15 Accessing Business, Government, and Non-Governmental Organization Actors in Mexico and BrazilChapter 16 Rendering Unto Caesar: Access to Local Religious LeadersChapter 17 Breaking into the Bank: The Challenge of Gaining Meaningful Access to the World BankChapter 18 Help From Unexpected Places: Access and Assistance From Within an OrganizationPart 19 Chapter Eight: Gaining Access for Interviewing and ObservationChapter 20 Going to PrisonChapter 21 How I Got Them to Talk to Me: The Importance of Persistence, Personality, and IdentityChapter 22 Accessing Multiple Human Service Organizations for Field-Based ResearchPart 23 Chapter Nine: Gaining Access for Extended ObservationChapter 24 Studying Work Groups in Indian, China, and HungaryChapter 25 Accessing Architects in the Auto IndustryChapter 26 Access to Rivera: Entering and Exiting an Urban High SchoolChapter 27 Crossing that Yellow Line: Obtaining Access to the Police DepartmentsPart 28 Chapter Ten: Gaining Access for ParticipationChapter 29 Perseverance FurthersChapter 30 Inside DOEChapter 31 Access as Relating: On the Relationship Aspects of Different Types of AccessChapter 32 Access and Participation in a Government AgencyPart 33 IndexPart 34 About the Authors

The book provides useful ideas to experienced qualitative researchers as well as invaluable advice to novices conducting their first studies.